LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2014) — The Home Depot College Football Awards, now in its 24th year, will once again air on ESPN, Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. ET, highlighting the achievements of college football student-athletes in 2014. Twenty-four players were selected as finalists for the nine National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) awards given annually during the show. The nominees were announced during The Home Depot College Football Awards Nomination Special at 6 p.m. ET today on ESPNU.

Alabama and Oregon lead schools in nominations having three and two players nominated, respectively. Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin), Marcus Mariota (Oregon) and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) are each finalists for two awards.

The Home Depot College Football Awards Finalists

Award

Presenter

Finalists

Chuck Bednarik Award

College Defensive Player of the Year

Teddy Lehman

Oklahoma

2003 Winner

Vic Beasley, Clemson (RS Graduate)

Joey Bosa, Ohio State (So.)

Scooby Wright III, Arizona (So.)

Biletnikoff Award

Nation’s Outstanding College Receiver

Desmond Howard

Michigan

College Football Hall of Fame

Amari Cooper, Alabama (Jr.)

Rashard Higgins, Colorado State (So.)

Kevin White, West Virginia (Sr.)

Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award

Nation’s Outstanding Placekicker

Art Carmody

Louisville

2006 Winner

Roberto Aguayo, Florida State* (RS So.)

Brad Craddock, Maryland (Jr.)

Josh Lambert, West Virginia (RS So.)

Ray Guy Award

College Punter of the Year

Ray Guy

Southern Miss

College Football Hall of Fame

Tom Hackett, Utah (Jr.)

Austin Rehkow, Idaho (So.)

JK Scott, Alabama (Fr.)

Maxwell Award

College Player of the Year

Lou Holtz

ESPN College Football Analyst

College Football Hall of Fame

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (RS Jr.)

Marcus Mariota, Oregon (RS Jr.)

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (Jr.)

Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

Nation’s Best Quarterback

Gino Torretta

Miami

College Football Hall of Fame & 1992 winner

Trevone Boykin, TCU (Jr.)

Marcus Mariota, Oregon (RS Jr.)

Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (Jr.)

Outland Trophy

Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman

Mark May

Pittsburgh

College Football Hall of Fame & 1980 winner

Malcom Brown, Texas (Jr.)

Reese Dismukes, Auburn (Sr.)

Brandon Scherff, Iowa (Sr.)

Jim Thorpe Award

Nation’s Best Defensive Back

Greg Myers

Colorado State

College Football Hall of Fame & 1995 winner

Landon Collins, Alabama (Jr.)

Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon (Sr.)

Gerod Holliman, Louisville (RS So.)

Doak Walker Award

Nation’s Premier Running Back

Floyd Little

Syracuse

College Football Hall of Fame

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (Sr.)

Tevin Coleman, Indiana (Jr.)

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (RS Jr.)

NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award

Mike Singletary

Baylor

College Football Hall of Fame

Winner: Grant Teaff

The Home Depot Coach of the Year

Nation’s Most Outstanding Head Coach

David Pollack

Georgia

2004 Bednarik winner & ESPN College Football Analyst

TBA on Wednesday, Dec. 10

Walter Camp All-America Team

Art Still

Kentucky

TBA on Thursday, Dec. 11

*2013 award winner

Additionally, the John Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End), the Rimington Award (Outstanding Center) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Success) will be recognized during The Red Carpet Special at The Home Depot College Football Awards. Nick O’Leary (Florida State, Sr.), Clive Walford (Miami, Sr.) and Maxx Williams (Minnesota, RS So.) are finalists for the John Mackey Award and the 17 finalist for the Campbell Trophy were announced on Oct. 30. The Rimington finalists will be announced on Monday, Dec. 8.

The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, to be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and the Disney Spirit Award will also be featured in the December show. Disney Sports previously announced that Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops and junior wide receiver Sterling Shepard will receive this year’s Disney Sports Spirit Award – an honor given annually by Disney Sports to college football’s most inspirational figure.

2014 The Home Depot College Football Awards Highlights

The 24th annual awards show – hosted by ESPN’s Rece Davis, and joined by Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Tom Rinaldi and Samantha Ponder – will originate from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

College Football Live will air from the BoardWalk at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. Host Chris Cotter will be joinedby college football analysts’ Danny Kanell, David Pollack and Joey Galloway and The Red Carpet Special at The Home Depot College Football Awards – hosted by Ponder, Kanell, and Rinaldi – will air at 6p.m. on ESPNU.

In addition to the nine awards listed above, The Home Depot College Football Awards will feature the live presentation of the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contribution to College Football Award; The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award; The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; the Disney Spirit Award; the student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team; and Play of the Year as voted on live by viewers. It will air on ESPN Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.

New for 2014, Championship Drive: CFB Playoff Preview will follow the awards show at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Host Cotter will be joined by Kanell, Pollack and Galloway.

Viewers can also follow and engage on Twitter by following @ESPNCFB and tagging their tweets using #CFBAwards for news, opinion and behind-the-scenes extras during and leading up to this year’s award show.

MEDIA NOTE: Media interested in attending The Home Depot College Football Awards can apply for credentials by emailing Liz McCollum at elizabethm@bzapr.com.

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